In general, the technology relates to a method for managing persistent storage. The method includes selecting a sample set of physical addresses in a solid state memory module, and performing a garbage collection operation on the sample set of physical addresses. The method further includes, after the garbage collection operation, issuing a write request to the sample set of physical addresses, issuing a request read to the sample set of physical addresses to obtain a copy of the data stored in the sample set of physical addresses, determining an error rate in the copy of the data stored using an Error Correction Code codeword or known data in the write request, determining a calculated P/E cycle value for the SSMM using at least the error rate, and updating an in-memory data structure in a control module with the calculated P/E cycle value.